Michigan

iwantyoutoknow"I want you to know" is a video featuring a suicide prevention message from a few famous people, some regular people who care enough to take a stand and some families for whom this message is too late. Watch the video and share it. You never know who might need to hear it. Add your voice at #iwantyoutoknow

Snyder was asked to participate because of the anti-bullying law he signed in 2011 -- a law named after an East Lansing teen who killed himself in 2002 after being bullied. The parents of at least two Genesee County teens who committed suicide in 2012 say the youths also endured bullying at school.

Upon signing the legislation, Snyder revealed that before he was "one tough nerd" (the nickname he famously coined during his gubernatorial campaign), he was bullied.

"Bullying is just plain wrong," he said.

Neither Shields nor Cleaves said they personally know anyone who committed suicide, but they were happy to offer words of encouragement to teens who need them.

In the #iwantyoutoknow video, Shields tells teens not to quit and Cleaves says, "it's

Gov. Rick Snyder has talked openly about being bullied, before he was known as "one tough nerd." He also appears in a new video #iwantyoutoknow, lending his voice to the anti-suicide message.File photo

always gonna get better."

As for Connor, he says he often thinks about the best friend who ended his life prematurely.

Connor's video message is a request to any teen thinking about doing the same:

"Think about not only
yourself, but all of the friends and family that it hurts in the process," he said.